[Met-jobs] Postdoctoral Position with KIT-IMK-ASF (Germany)

["Roger Brugge" <r.brugge@reading.ac.uk>]

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology - Institute for Meteorology and
Climate Research - Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing
(<http://www.imk-asf.kit.edu/english/397.php>), Germany, has a job
opening for a

postdoctoral scientist

to work on

development of a robust ground-based spectrometer for remote sensing of
atmospheric CO2 and CH4.

Background.
Man-made climate change is largely attributed to the anthropogenic
emissions of CO2 and CH4. The carbon cycle processes that control CO2
and CH4 concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, however, lack
quantitative understanding. Remote sensing of CO2 and CH4 concentrations
from space and ground has the potential to deliver significant new
insight into the relevant processes. The goals of our research group
"RemoteC" are (1) to infer CO2 and CH4 concentrations on the global
scale from satellite observations, (2) to develop robust ground-based
instrumentation for validation of the satellite retrievals, and (3) to
relate the measurements to the relevant biogeochemical processes through
a modelling framework.

Job description.
The postdoctoral scientist will address task (2). The candidate will
develop and deploy a ground-based spectrometer for measuring
shortwave-infrared absorption bands of CO2 and CH4. While achieving the
required accuracy, the instrument should be sufficiently robust and
versatile to be operated at the optimal geolocation even under harsh
conditions. Potentially interesting locations are the tropics and
high-latitudes where the current monitoring network only provides sparse
observations. Project planning foresees 2 dedicated measurement
campaigns. In the long term, the instrument should prove suitable for
monitoring networks.

Tasks.
- Development of a robust ground-based spectrometer for the
shortwave-infrared spectral range.
- Deployment of the spectrometer at campaign sites.
- Retrieval of CO2 and CH4 concentrations from the ground-based
measurements.
- Publication in peer-reviewed literature and attendance of
international meetings.

Requirements.
- Ph.D. in physics or a related field.
- Previous experience in optical instrumentation and spectroscopy.
- Good knowledge of the English language.

Offer.
We offer a wealth of supporting expertise on atmospheric remote sensing
at one of Germany's foremost research institutions for natural sciences
and technology. The appointment will start as soon as possible with an
initial contract for 3 years according to salary rules for public
service employees. Subject to mid-term approval, project funding will be
available for 5 years.

Contact.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please
submit your application as one pdf file, in German or English, including
a cover letter, preferred starting date, curriculum vitae, list of
publications, and contact details of 2 referees to Dr. André Butz
(<andre.butz@kit.edu>). For further information please contact Dr. André
Butz (<andre.butz@kit.edu>, phone ++49 721 608 24510).

Best regards,
André Butz

****************************************************
Dr. André Butz
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK)
Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing (ASF)
H.-v.-Helmholtz-Platz 1
76344 Leopoldshafen
Germany

Phone: ++49 721 608 24510
Email: andre.butz@kit.edu
Web: <http://www.imk-asf.kit.edu/>